Apparatus and method for using a telephone while navigating

Abstract

A navigation device comprises a map database ( 12 ) for storing map data, and a telephone number database ( 13 ) for storing a plurality of locations and their telephone numbers, latitudes, and longitudes. The navigation device further includes an input unit ( 1 ) for allowing a user to select a desired location from among the plurality of locations stored in the telephone number database ( 13 ) and set the desired location to his or her destination, and to set a predetermined distance, and an automatically dialing unit ( 15 ) for automatically dialing a telephone number corresponding to the destination, which is stored in the telephone number database, when the distance from a current position to the destination is less than or equal to the predetermined distance while the navigation device guides the user to the destination.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A navigation device comprising: 
       a map database storing map data;  
       a telephone number database storing plural telephone numbers and corresponding location information;  
       a processor obtaining the area code of a current position using said map database;  
       a processor identifying telephone numbers stored in said telephone number database based on said obtained area code, said processor identifying the telephone numbers if said obtained area code is different from a previously obtained area code; and  
       a device showing said identified telephone numbers and showing location information corresponding to said identified telephone numbers, wherein  
       the device shows location information corresponding to said identified telephone numbers by using a symbol representing each said identified telephone number and placing the symbols at the correct latitude and longitude on a display map.  
     
     
       2. The navigation device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
       the device shows the present location of the navigation device on a display map at the correct latitude and longitude position of the navigation device.  
     
     
       3. The navigation device according to  claim 2 , wherein 
       the device further shows the location of a desired destination as a symbol on the display map at the correct latitude and longitude position of the desired destination.  
     
     
       4. The navigation device according to  claim 3 , wherein 
       the device further shows the distance between the present location and the desired destination location on the display map.  
     
     
       5. A navigation device comprising: 
       a map database storing map data;  
       a telephone number database storing plural telephone numbers and corresponding location information;  
       a telephone transceiver;  
       a processor identifying the source telephone number of a telephone call incoming to said transceiver;  
       a processor using said map database and said telephone number database to identify location information corresponding to said identified telephone number; and  
       a device showing said identified telephone number and location information corresponding to said identified telephone number.  
     
     
       6. The navigation device according to  claim 5 , wherein 
       the device shows location information corresponding to said identified telephone numbers by using a symbol representing each said identified telephone number and placing the symbols at the correct latitude and longitude on a display map.  
     
     
       7. The navigation device according to  claim 5 , wherein 
       the device shows the present location of the navigation device on a display map at the correct latitude and longitude position of the navigation device.  
     
     
       8. The navigation device according to  claim 7 , wherein 
       the device further shows the location of a desired destination as a symbol on the display map at the correct latitude and longitude position of the desired destination.  
     
     
       9. The navigation device according to  claim 8 , wherein 
       the device further shows the distance between the present location and the desired destination location on the display map.  
     
     
       10. A method for using a telephone in a mobile environment, said method comprising: 
       storing map data in a map database;  
       storing plural telephone numbers and corresponding location information in a telephone database;  
       obtaining the area code of a current position using said map database;  
       identifying telephone numbers stored in said telephone number database based on said obtained area code, said identifying step occurring if said obtained area code is different from a previously obtained area code; and  
       showing said identified telephone numbers and showing location information corresponding to said identified telephone numbers, wherein  
       the step of showing further shows location information corresponding to said identified telephone numbers by using a symbol representing each said identified telephone number and placing the symbols at the correct latitude and longitude on a display map.  
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein 
       the step of showing further shows the present location of the navigation device on a display map at the correct latitude and longitude position of the navigation device.  
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein 
       the step of showing further shows the location of a desired destination as a symbol on the display map at the correct latitude and longitude position of the desired destination.  
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein 
       the step of showing further shows the distance between the present location and the desired destination location on the display map.  
     
     
       14. A method for using a telephone in a mobile environment, said method comprising: 
       storing map data in a map database;  
       storing plural telephone numbers and corresponding location information in a telephone database;  
       identifying the source telephone number of a telephone call incoming to said telephone;  
       using said map database and said telephone number database to identify location information corresponding to said identified telephone number; and  
       showing said identified telephone number and showing location information corresponding to said identified telephone number.  
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein 
       the step of showing further shows location information corresponding to said identified telephone numbers by using a symbol representing each said identified telephone number and placing the symbols at the correct latitude and longitude on a display map.  
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein 
       the step of showing further shows the present location of the navigation device on a display map at the correct latitude and longitude position of the navigation device.  
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein 
       the step of showing further shows the location of a desired destination as a symbol on the display map at the correct latitude and longitude position of the desired destination.  
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein 
       the step of showing further shows the distance between the present location and the desired destination location on the display map.